Laser and Alignment Systems Associate Section Manager for Operations

Are you ready to play a pivotal role in supporting the world’s most advanced laser facility? We are seeking a dynamic Associate Section Manager for Operations, Lasers & Alignment Systems Engineering (LASE), to join the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the team that achieved fusion ignition in December 2022, a historic moment in science that opened new physics regimes and set the stage for future fusion energy possibilities. In this critical position, you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for the operation and maintenance of laser sources, diagnostics, target and beam alignment, and pulsed power systems. You will manage operational execution, integration, and continuous improvement of LASE activities across NIF sections, ensuring seamless support for NIF’s shot schedule and mission. This position is in the Laser Systems Engineering & Operations (LSEO) Division within the Engineering Directorate.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

In this role, you will 

• Lead teams, programs, or functions with a technical focus, operate under consultative direction with substantial authority, use subject matter expertise and significant team leadership experience, and exercise judgment within established policies to monitor workflow, allocate resources, ensure timely completion of projects, independently determine strategies, and achieve objectives while managing organizational impact and pursuing actions to achieve long-term goals.
• Oversee the management and execution of the LASE Operations & Integration team scope, identifying, planning and executing courses of action essential to obtaining desired outcomes, and managing internal sponsor.
• Lead a team of work center supervisors and technicians providing 24/7 operational support for the operations and maintenance of the NIF laser system, including laser sources & diagnostics, target and beam alignment, and pulsed power.
• Manage highly complex operational interfaces between key internal stakeholders responsible for NIF shots, Laser System Operators, and Pulsed Power Operators to ensure seamless completion of critical path activities to support NIF’s shot schedule.
• Represent LASE interests in working group interactions with other associate section managers for operations, including participation in the improvement of the Safety Security Quality And Efficiency (SSQE).
• Identify and coordinate with the appropriate organizations the support from work teams and resources required for each phase of LASE activities, including personnel, equipment, and facility needs, while ensuring that LASE scope is clearly understood, appropriately represented, and effectively prioritized.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for LASE Operations, representing LASE at planning and coordination meetings, ensuring that LASE scope and priorities are communicated and understood, and escalating gaps in planning and execution as needed.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement through regular meetings with section managers, planners, system managers, work center supervisors, and appropriate project teams to clarify roles, processes, integration needs, and priorities for LASE, and solicit feedback for continuous improvement.
• Oversee the management and development of the operations training program including development of highly advanced methods and metrics to track progress towards strategic goals.
• Ability to support a team that is responsible for 24/7 facility operations of Lasers & Alignment Systems Engineering, including fielding off-hours/at-night calls and providing onsite presence as needed to resolve highly complex technical or operational issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.